Create an Instagram Photo Downloader using Python.

This project aims to create an Instagram Photo Downloader application using the Instaloader library to download photos from Instagram and the Tkinter library in Python to create the graphical user interface (GUI). Users can enter the URL of an Instagram post using Tkinter’s user-friendly interface. After extracting the post’s shortcode, the application downloads the image using Instaloader.

Managing downloaded content is made simple for users by providing them with the option of where to store the photo. This project streamlines the Instagram photo download process by providing a helpful tool for quickly saving favourite material to a user’s PC.

Prerequisites for Python Instagram Photo Downloader Project

To implement this project successfully, you should have:

• Python Programming: A fundamental understanding of Python that covers functions, data structures, grammar, and object-oriented programming.
• Tkinter: knowledge of Tkinter for managing events, handling widgets (buttons, labels, etc.), generating GUI windows, and organising layouts with grid or pack managers.
• Instaloader: Instaloader library for downloading photos from Instagram.
• Both Tkinter and Instaloader libraries should be installed in your Python environment.

Step by Step Python Instagram Photo Downloader Implementation

Import Necessary Libraries and Modules

import tkinter as tk
from tkinter import messagebox
import instaloader
import os

Explanation:

• The tkinter library is imported as tk for ease of use. Tkinter is the standard GUI toolkit for Python.
• The messagebox and filedialog submodules from Tkinter are imported to display messages to the user and to select download directories, respectively.
• instaloader is imported for downloading Instagram photos.

Function to Download Photo

def download_photo():
    link = entry.get()
    if not link:
        messagebox.showerror("Error", "Please enter a valid Instagram post link.")
        return
try:
        # Extracting shortcode from the link
        shortcode = link.split("/")[-2]
# Creating an instance of Instaloader
        loader = instaloader.Instaloader()
# Getting the current working directory
        download_directory = os.getcwd()
# Downloading the post
        loader.download_post(instaloader.Post.from_shortcode(loader.context, shortcode), target=download_directory)
messagebox.showinfo("Success", f"Photo downloaded successfully to {download_directory}!")
    except Exception as e:
        messagebox.showerror("Error", f"An error occurred: {e}")

Explanation:

• The download_photo function retrieves the link from the entry widget and extracts the shortcode from the link.
• An Instaloader instance is created to download the post.
  The post is downloaded to the current directory, and a success message
• is displayed. If an error occurs, an error message is shown.

Setting Up the GUI

root = tk.Tk()
root.title("Instagram Photo Downloader")
root.geometry("400x200")
root.resizable(False, False)
# Adding a frame for better layout
frame = tk.Frame(root, bg="#f0f0f0")
frame.place(relwidth=1, relheight=1)
# Header label
header_label = tk.Label(frame, text="Instagram Photo Downloader", font=("Helvetica", 16), bg="#f0f0f0")
header_label.pack(pady=20)
# Label for the entry widget
entry_label = tk.Label(frame, text="Enter Instagram Post Link:", font=("Helvetica", 12), bg="#f0f0f0")
entry_label.pack(pady=5)
# Entry widget for the link
entry = tk.Entry(frame, width=50, font=("Helvetica", 12))
entry.pack(pady=5)
# Download button
download_button = tk.Button(frame, text="Download Photo", font=("Helvetica", 12), bg="#4caf50", fg="white", command=download_photo)
download_button.pack(pady=20)
# Run the main loop
root.mainloop()

Explanation:

• The root window is set up with a fixed size and a title.
• A frame is used to manage the layout more effectively and set a background color.
• The header label, entry label, entry widget, and download button are created and styled with consistent fonts and colors.
• The download_button is connected to the download_photo function.

Complete Code

import tkinter as tk
from tkinter import messagebox
import instaloader
import os
# Function to download photo
def download_photo():
    link = entry.get()
    if not link:
        messagebox.showerror("Error", "Please enter a valid Instagram post link.")
        return
try:
        # Extracting shortcode from the link
        shortcode = link.split("/")[-2]
# Creating an instance of Instaloader
        loader = instaloader.Instaloader()
# Getting the current working directory
        download_directory = os.getcwd()
# Downloading the post
        loader.download_post(instaloader.Post.from_shortcode(loader.context, shortcode), target=download_directory)
messagebox.showinfo("Success", f"Photo downloaded successfully to {download_directory}!")
    except Exception as e:
        messagebox.showerror("Error", f"An error occurred: {e}")
# Setting up the GUI
root = tk.Tk()
root.title("Instagram Photo Downloader")
root.geometry("400x200")
root.resizable(False, False)
# Adding a frame for better layout
frame = tk.Frame(root, bg="#f0f0f0")
frame.place(relwidth=1, relheight=1)
# Header label
header_label = tk.Label(frame, text="Instagram Photo Downloader", font=("Helvetica", 16), bg="#f0f0f0")
header_label.pack(pady=20)
# Label for the entry widget
entry_label = tk.Label(frame, text="Enter Instagram Post Link:", font=("Helvetica", 12), bg="#f0f0f0")
entry_label.pack(pady=5)
# Entry widget for the link
entry = tk.Entry(frame, width=50, font=("Helvetica", 12))
entry.pack(pady=5)
# Download button
download_button = tk.Button(frame, text="Download Photo", font=("Helvetica", 12), bg="#4caf50", fg="white", command=download_photo)
download_button.pack(pady=20)
root.mainloop()

Python Instagram Photo Downloader Output

Conclusion

This project shows how to download Instagram photographs using the Instaloader module and develop a graphical user interface (GUI) using Python’s Tkinter library. The end product is a valuable application called Instagram Photo Downloader. With Tkinter, users can input an Instagram post link in an intuitive UI. The downloading procedure is managed by Instaloader, which makes saving Instagram photographs easier. Users need to input the post link; the application downloads the photo independently.

This is a practical application for anyone who wants to save their favourite Instagram photographs directly to their computer, thanks to its user-friendly layout and effective performance.